Heat-diffuser for stoves or ranges



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet; '1.

J. H. WILKINSON.

'HEAT DIFFUSER FOR STOVES 0R RANGES.

' No. 367,878. Patented-Aug. 9, 1887.

(No Model.) v 2 sheetssheet 2. J. H. WILKINSON.

HEAT DIFFUSER FOR STOVES OR RANGES. No. 367.878. Patented Au 9, 1887.

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UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H ANDFORTH WILKINSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

HEAT-DIFFUSER FOR STOVES OR RANGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,878, dated August 9, 1887.

Application filed March 3, 1887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn HANDFORTH WILKINsoN, a citizen of theUnited States,

and a resident of the city of Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Heat Diffusers for Stoves or Ranges, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is designed more especially for application to those forms of stoves or ranges in which the collar for the reception of the uptake or draft-pipe'is arranged upon their top, although it is obvious that, with slight modifications, it may be applied to stoves and ranges having their collars diflerently located.

In heat-diifusers of the various forms heretofore in use it has been the custom, while adapting them to rest upon the top of the stove or range and receive in their bottom or under side the usual uptake or draft-pipe collar thereof, to invariably locate the uptake or draft-pipe collar of such devices at the same point in each particular class, with no means provided for changing the same therefrom. This construction, while unobjectionable in locations where the thimble in the chimney-" flue is arranged opposite to the uptake-collar, has been found objectionable in those cases in which such thimble is differently located,

principally because of the fact that in order to make use of such devices it has been found necessary to employ two or more elbows and joints, which not only necessitates the placing of the stove or range out from the chimney into the room to an inconvenient distance, but also involves great difficultyin securing the proper lengths in the various elbows and j oints, as well as the cost incident thereto.

The object of my invention is to obviate these defects and to produce a heat-diffuser which shall not only provide a convenient its top and with a sheet-metal back, which is capable of being removed when it is desired to locate and secure the uptake or draft-pipe collar therein, and arrange within such heatdiffuser a system of pipes and a heat-deflector, whereby provision is made not only for utilizing the heated gases passing from the stove or range in heating water for baths and other purposes, but also for governing the course of the same as they pass from the stove or range to the chimney.

In order that my invention may be more readily understood, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is an isometric projection showing 1 an ordinary form of stove or range with my heat-diffuser applied thereto. Fig; 2 is atransverse section of my heat-diffuser, taken onthe line or w of Fig. 1, showinga portion of the chimney in elevation. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same parts, showing a slightlymodified arrangement of waterpipes, the heatdefiector turned to a different position, and an uptake or draftpipe collar arranged therein; and Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal central section of the heat-diffuser, the heat-deflector being shown in elevation.

A indicates an ordinary cooking stove or range, and B my improved heat-diffuser mounted thereon and secured thereto by screws or otherwise. This heat-diffuser is constructed with asuitably-formed base-plate, a,which in practice rests upon the top of the rear portion of the stove or range, and receives within an aperture,with which it is provided, the uptake or draft-pipe collar a. Resting upon and secured to this base-plate a are the front and side walls, I; c d, respectively, and to the top of these is secured the top plate, 0, which is made of such size and shape as to project some distance beyond the outer side of said walls, to form a'convenient shelf for supporting and warming dishes or other articles placed thereon.. V

- The parts as thus far described are in practice made of cast metal, andwhen properly assembled and secured together by rods 1 1, or otherwise, form a rectangular or oblong structure with an open back or rear side.

- The space or side thus left open, instead of being closed by a plate of metal of the charac- .tcr of that employedin the construction of the other parts of the diffuser, receives a sheetmetal plate, f, which is secured therein in such a manner as to be readily removed and replaced, when desired, without disturbing in any way thcother parts of the device. Various means may be made use of for securing the sheet metal plate in place. I prefer, however, to employ screws 2 2, which pass through the same and enter threaded orifices formed in the flange 3 3, projecting inward from the top, bottom, andsides of thediffuscr, as shown in Figs. 2 and By this arrangement the use of elbows in connecting the stove or range with the chimney-flue is obviated, anda single section of straight pipe is made available therefor. The back being made detachable and of sheet metal permits of the same being removed and the location and 'securement of the collar f for the uptake or draft-pipe at any desired position therein within the compass of the back itself to suit it to the particular position in which the stove or range is to be employed.

In practice the backs of these diffusers, when they leave the mannfactory, will be imperferate, as shown in Fig. 2, and the collar for the uptake or draft pipe will not be arranged therein until the location in which the diffuser is to be used has been ascertained, when the necessary perforation for the collar in the back to bring such collar opposite the thimble in the chimneyfiue in connection with which it is to be used will be made, and the collar secured therein, as shown, for instance, in Fig. 3.

I am thus enabled to secure economy in space, as regards the position of the stove or range, and ease in setting up the same for use, since the sheet metal can be cut to fit the chimney-flue, which ordinarily varies in position in every house, thus permitting of the use of a straight pipe for connecting the stove or range with the chimney-flue, and the consequent arrangementof such stove or range close in to the wall, which is not possible when elbows are employed.

I sometimes find it convenient to provide the top plate, 0, with an opening, g, in which to secure the collar for the uptake or draft pipe when the flue-hole is situated near the ceiling, as sometimes occurs; and also find it desirable in some instances to arrange in the front plate, 0, a damper, It, by means of which the draft of the stove or range may be regulated; but neither of these arrangements are essential to my invention.

In order to control the movement of the heated gases as they pass off from the stove or range, I provide the heat-diffuser with a deflector-plate, O, by means of which they may be thrown forward against the front plate, 0, or away from the same and up the chimney-flue. This plate is mounted upon suitable pivots or journals, it, in such amanner as to be capable of a swinging movement thereon above the collar c, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, one of said pivots or journals being provided with a knob or handle, 1?, by which such movement is effected. Thus in winter time, in case the stove or range is required to perform the office of a heater, the deflector plate is disposed as shown in the first of said figures, and the hot gases and air arising from the combustion of the fuel are deflected and thrown forward toward the front plate, 0, heating the same as well as the end plates, I) d. Ihe radiating-surface is then at its maximum, and the heat contained in the gases is employed for heating the apartments. In summer time, however, when no heating of the apartments is required, the deflector-plate G is turned to the position illustrated in the last of said figures, and the heated gases are caused to pass directly up the chimney without affecting the front of the diffuser so materially, and its heating efficacy is thereby reduced to the minimum and excessive heat obviated.

When the difiuscr is to be employed as a hot-water generator for supplying a house or apartment, I provide a system of pipes,which may be arranged therein in various ways. If, for example, the amount of water to be heated is not large, a single tier of pipes, D, may be employed, which are preferably disposed immcdiately in frontof the uptake or draft-pipe collarf, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, so that in whatever position the deflector-plate C may be arranged the heated gases are caused to pass over them on their way to the chimneytiue. On the other hand, when the amount of water to be heated is considerable, a single tier may not suffice, and in such case I arrange a second tier of pipes, D, upon the front of the diffuser, as shown in Fig. 3. The two tiers of pipe, when two tiers are used, may be connected, if desired, by carrying the pipe of one tier across the end of the diffuser to the other, or both may remain independent and each be provided with an inlet-pipe and an outlet-pipe, the same as is shown for the tier D atj and 7.: in the figure last noted.

By the construction of parts above setforth it will be seen that I produce a heat-diffuser WhlCl],Wllll0 obviating many of the difficulties experienced with heat-dilfusers hcretofor in use, is exceedingly cheap and simple in construction and admirably suited to the purpose for which it isiutended.

IVhile I have shown thebest means contemplated by me for carrying my invention into practice, I do not limit myself strictly thereto, as it is obvious that I may modify the details and unesscntial parts of such devices and still be within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention and one way in which it is or may be carried into effect, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the Uni ted States, is-= 1. The combination,with the top, thebottom,

and the front and end walls of a heat-diffuser constructed to rest upon the top of a stove or range and receive the uptake or draft-pipe collar, of an imperforate sheet-metal back ICO IIO

and means for securing it in place, whereby it may be removed or replaced without disturbing the other parts of the diffuser, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the bottom and the front and end walls of a heat-diffuser constructed to rest upon the'top of a stove or range and receive the uptake or draft-pipe collar thereof, of a plate-warming shelf forming the top of the diffuser, an imperforate sheetmetal back,and means for securing it in place, whereby said back can be removed and replaced without disturbing the other parts of the diffuser, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the bottom, the r 5 front and end walls, the plate-warming shelf, the imperforate sheet-metal back, and means for securing it in place,whereby it can be removed or replaced without disturbing the other parts of the diffuser, of aheat-deflector 20 and a system of pipes arranged within the said diffuser, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of February, 1887.

JOSEPH HANDFORTH WILKINSON. Witnesses':

J P. CHAPLIN,

F. S. FISKE. 

